A ramp? Who needs a ramp?
Just get somebody close by.
Just be sure they know what they're doing. Or else if you're not crippled - YOU SOON WILL BE.
Posted on 04/18/2012 8:55:42 AM PDT by B Knotts
SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) - Owners and managers of swimming pools at hotels, city recreation centers and public parks are scrambling to install mechanical chair lifts to comply with new federal requirements that all public pools be accessible to disabled swimmers.
Some hotels fear the cost of the equipment or fines for noncompliance could put them out of business, and an industry lobbyist says others may close their pools this summer if they can't upgrade in time, though the government can offer more time to those having trouble paying for it. Swimmers with disabilities say the changes are overdue.
"I couldn't get into the pool without it," said Karen Kitchen of Savannah, who has multiple sclerosis and relies on a poolside chair lift at the Chatham County Aquatic Center for her physical therapy workouts up to four times a week.
Adding to the problem is a backlog of orders created by the rush to meet a May deadline. Harry Spirides ordered lifts last month for the hotel he owns on Georgia's largest public beach and was told they should arrive in late April. He expects to pay $12,000 for the lifts at the Ocean Plaza Beach Resort on Tybee Island.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
Getting someone who is wheel-chair bound into a pool is easy—all you need is a ramp. Getting them out reliably is going to be the problem.
"And if I can't use the pool at the Hyatt in Atlanta, neither can you!"
(Next, let's ban high school track teams.)
ML/NJ
Every time a lawyer comes up with another BS money grab, a horn blows in hell.
This should also remind us that we have President George H.W. Bush to thank for this particular unconstitutional mandate.
That is the common sense side, the constitutional side is another issue.
“I couldn’t get into the pool without it,” said Karen Kitchen”
Obamacare can handle it, calling Dr Kevorkian!!!!
So who makes these lifts and which politicians are they buddy buddy with?
That was my thought, too. Good question. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if there were some connection to lobbying/contributions. In fact, I’d be shocked if that wasn’t the real reason behind this regulation.
This stuff really frosts me. I have empathy for disabled people, but why should 99.9% of the people in this country indirectly pay for their access to a POOL? We aren’t talking about a fundamental right. It’s a freaking POOL.
“A ramp? Who needs a ramp?”
Just rent a small backhoe, or ditch witch.
99% of these things will never be used after they are installed. Just a waste of money.
More kids will get hurt playing on them than any benefit they might have.
That's most likely part of it.
Still, the source of all this garbage is the great Statist, Bush 41 and his kindler, gentler nation. He lovingly proposed the ADA. The ADA has been nothing but a windfall for lawyers.
99.9% of all non-military government spending is absolute waste.
The ADA requires a "reasonable accommodation". I haven't heard anyone say why keeping the portable lifts aren't reasonable anymore? Will gas stations soon have to have an automated arm to insert the gas nozzle instead of a handicapped person who can't do it himself ringing a bell to have someone pump the gas for them?
BTW - don't a lot of wheelchair folks have bowel and bladder control issues?
I had gotten quotes for lift systems for a disabled relative in 2008/9, the “commercial” models cost about $5500 including installation and taxes, to get installed, annual maintenance contracts were available for less than $400, but the local installation contractor told me he only sells the maintenance contract to elderly folks without anyone to do the simple steps to keep the lift working.
Under these regulations the height of basketball hoops could be regulated by FedGov?
Good idea about basketball hoops. I say we bring ‘em down to 7’ so everyone can dunk.
Well, there are a lot of companies.
But, the interesting part is that this requires A RAMP to go in on, A LIFT to remove persons in a wheelchair, AND a lift for persons NOT in a wheelchair.
Then we have the ENORMOUSLY HUGE FAT PERSON lift (in case one of them ever makes it out of the house).
Eventually, the motorized scooter (like the grocery stores have) for people who are just fat and lazy.
My plan is to use the large LIFT to drop in a jet ski. After all, it would be 'unfair' if ONLY handicapped people were allowed use of these government mandated devices.
Apparently, you must have a RAMP and a LIFT. And not just one LIFT but two different types.
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